• 1/2 cup Raw rice (Short or medium grain works best)
• 2 tbsp Moong Dal (Yellow lentil)
• 1 cup powdered jaggery
• 4 cups Milk (1 litre + few tbsp more as needed while serving. We used 2% milk)
• 1/4 cup Ghee (or more if you like. 1/2 cup plus more are added usually)
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
• 2-3 tbsp of cashews and raisins (as per taste)
• pinch of edible camphor, See Note (called pachai kalpooram, optional)

Soak the powdered jaggery in little hot water (about 1/2 cup – or enough to cover it slightly). This helps to break the jaggery down into syrup. Set aside.

Meanwhile wash the rice and lentil well in cold water. Take a non stick pan, heat 1-2 tbsp ghee and toast the rice-lentil mixture for 2-3 minutes

until aromatic and lightly toasted. Akkaravadisal Recipe | Iyengar Sweet Milk Pongal | Festival Recipes

Take this mixture and place it in a deep vessel.

Add the milk to this mixture and give it a mix.

Place it in a pressure cooker

and cook for 3-4 whistles. It is totally Ok if it overcooks since we want the rice to be mushy.

Give it a good stir to make it into a pudding consistency.

Meanwhile mix the jaggery well, breaking down any bits with the back of the spoon. Filter this syrup just in case there are lumps/impurities.

My mother insists on heating up this syrup until it boils and gives of aroma. This enhances the taste of this pudding along with providing a rich aroma. The boiling takes like 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the cardamom powder and Edible camphor (if using) to this syrup and give it a mix.

Now add this syrup to the rice lentil mixture and give it a good mix.

Note: The color of the pudding depends on the type of jaggery available. While few impart a deep brown color, few others add a golden yellow tinge.

In the remaining ghee, toast the cashews and raisins.

Add it to the rice mixture. Give it a good mix.

Garnish with few more roasted cashews (if needed) and serve.The pudding tends to thicken with time, hence you can add some warm milk to loosen it up a bit according to the consistency you like

by Pak101.com (few years ago!) / 1028 views